Manchester City were defeated at Joie Stadium on Sunday, as an impressive performance from Renée Slegers’ Arsenal saw the Gunners rise to second in the Women’s Super League table.
The visitors had sailed into a seemingly unassailable lead within the opening ten minutes, with Mariona Caldentey and Lotte Wubben-Moy capitalising on City’s defensive fragilities.
Goals from Mary Fowler and Vivianne Miedema restored parity, albeit only temporarily as Frida Maanum handed Arsenal the lead again just 66 seconds later – but even that was short-lived, with Fowler soon doubling her tally from the penalty spot.
But Stina Blackstenius loves a goal at the Joie Stadium, and added a late fourth for the Gunners who head back to London with a crucial three points.
As it happened
City’s defensive woes are well-documented this season. Despite an apparent insistence to play out from defence, it has cost Gareth Taylor’s side on countless occasions – perhaps most notably in their recent Manchester Derby loss – and Sunday’s clash with Arsenal would add another example to a growing list.
With Laia Aleixandri hesitating as she received a pass from goalkeeper Khiara Keating, Arsenal’s Mariona Caldentey took advantage and despatched into the far corner inside the opening minute; truly a nightmare start for the Cityzens.
Embed from Getty ImagesBad would soon turn to worse, as the Gunners doubled their lead less than ten minutes later from a Kyra Cooney-Cross free-kick. The Australian international’s delivery from 25 yards out found an unmarked Lotte Wubben-Moy at the back post, with the defender able to easily nod home under very little pressure.
But after a dreadful start, City grew into proceedings. Kerstin Casparij’s cross wasn’t quite able to find Mary Fowler on 13 minutes, but the Australian forward managed to connect beautifully with Aoba Fujino’s delivery soon after to halve the deficit.
The remainder of the half hit a lull, though Daphne van Domselaar was the busier of the two goalkeepers before the break, denying both Yui Hasegawa and Fujino.
The Dutch shotstopper couldn’t do anything about a fierce effort from her compatriot, Vivianne Miedema, five minutes into the second half though. Against her former club, Miedema was able to drift into the box and pick out the far corner; City were level.
Embed from Getty ImagesTheir lead lasted all of 66 seconds, with their lack of focus swiftly pounced upon by Renée Slegers’ side as Caldentey teed up Frida Maanum – but their lead wouldn’t last long either, with Fowler restoring parity from the penalty spot in controversial circumstances after Fujino was seemingly felled outside the box by Steph Catley.
Despite the introduction of serious firepower in the form of Khadija Shaw and Kerolin, Manchester City were not able to take the lead in Sunday’s lunchtime kickoff and instead found themselves defending resolutely as a spirited Stina Blackstenius sought for the winner.
The Swedish forward, who netted twice late on at the Joie Stadium last season, saw her effort fly wide of the target shortly before the hour mark – but she made no mistake 20 minutes later, stabbing home from a Beth Mead cross after the England international picked up possession in midfield.
These two sides will meet again in midweek action on Thursday, having been drawn against eachother in the semifinals of the Subway Women’s League Cup. That clash gets underway at 19:00 GMT, and City will be keen to exact revenge on the same opponent after a weekend defeat just as they did at Manchester United two weeks ago.
The lineups
MCI: Keating; Ouahabi, Knaak, Aleixandri, Casparij; Park, Hasegawa, Roord; Fowler, Miedema, Fujino
ARS: van Domselaar; Catley, Wubben-Moy, Williamson, Fox; Caldentey, Cooney-Cross; Russo, Maanum, Mead; Blackstenius